Wrapped in luxurious creaminess, you’ll find layers of crunch from sweet apples, toasted pecans, and fresh celery tossed with plump golden raisins. It’s an old-fashioned salad that’s livened up with an exotic touch of spice!
Such a simple salad, one that my Grandmother frequently made using a recipe from one of her cookbooks, circa 1934.
It starts with a blend of fresh flavors from apples, toasted pecans, celery, and golden raisins. Everything is all dressed up in a silky mix of sour cream, mayonnaise plus a touch of cream that’s lightly sweetened with brown sugar and brightened with Chinese Five Spice.
Apples are the star of this salad so use crisp, sweet apples. Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji are great options for this or any fresh fruit salad.
It’s the addition of Chinese Five Spice to the creamy dressing that brings a delightful update to this vintage salad. One of my favorite spice blends made with star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, and fennel seeds, it adds both a touch of spicy and sweet.
It’s a delicious salad that’s so easy to make – wonderful for brunch, lunch, or just snacking!
Apple and Toasted Pecan Salad with Creamy Spiced Dressing
4 sweet apples, such as Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, cored and chopped, about 6 cups
2 teaspoons Fruit Fresh, optional
½ cup toasted chopped pecans
½ cup golden raisins
3 stalks of celery chopped, about 2-½ cups
¼ cup dark brown sugar
1-½ teaspoons Chinese Five Spice
½ cup sour cream
6 tablespoons real mayonnaise, such as Duke’s
½ cup heavy cream
Toss the chopped apples and the Fruit Fresh together in a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped celery, pecans, and raisins, stirring to blend together.
In a small bowl mix the brown sugar with the Chinese Five Spice, sour cream, mayonnaise, and the heavy cream. Stir until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the apples, stirring to blend well.
Serve or cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 4 hours.
Serves 8.
Apple and Toasted Pecan Salad with Creamy Spiced Dressing
Ingredients
- 4 sweet apples, such as Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, cored and chopped, about 6 cups
- 2 teaspoons Fruit Fresh
- ½ cup toasted chopped pecans
- ½ cup golden raisins
- 3 stalks of celery chopped, about 2-½ cups
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 1-½ teaspoons Chinese Five Spice
- ½ cup sour cream
- 6 tablespoons real mayonnaise, such as Duke’s
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Toss the chopped apples and the Fruit Fresh together in a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped celery, pecans, and raisins, stirring to blend together.
- In a small bowl mix the brown sugar with the Chinese Five Spice, sour cream, mayonnaise, and the heavy cream. Stir until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the apples, stirring to blend well.
- Serve or cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 4 hours.
